A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Pilch, Robert
PILCH. (Commander, 1813. f-p., 25; h-p., 39.)
Robert Pilch died in 1846.
This officer entered the Navy, in 1783, as Captain’s Servant, on board the Thetis frigate, Capt. John Blankett, with whom he was for four years employed in the Mediterranean. With the exception of a brief attachment, in 1790, to the Prince 98, bearing the flag of Sir John Jervis in the Channel, he did not again go afloat until 1794. He then joined the Victorious and Venerable 74’s, both under the orders of Sir John Orde; whom, in 1795, he followed as Master’s Mate into the Prince George 98, commanded subsequently by Capt. Wm. Edge. Becoming attached next to the Glory 98 and Thunderer 74, each bearing the flag of Sir Hugh Cloberry Christian, he assisted, in the latter ship, at the reduction of Ste. Lucie in May, 1796. Being confirmed a Lieutenant in the Thunderer by commission dated 22 Dec. 1796, he continued to serve in her on the Jamaica station, under Capts. Jas. Bowen, Wm. Ogilvie, John Loring, John Cochet, John Crawley, Temple Hardy, Robt. Mends, Wm. Henry Bayntun, and Henry Vansittart, until June, 1801. His subsequent appointments were – 20 July, 1801, to the Bellerophon 74, Capts. Lord Garlies and John Loring, employed at first in the Channel and afterwards in the West Indies, where, in command of the launches of that ship and the Elephant 74, he captured, 23 Nov. 1803, under a very smart fire from the enemy’s great guns and musketry, the French national schooner La Découverte, mounting 6 long 6-pounders and 6 swivels, with a complement of 52 men, lying in the Caracol Passage, near Cape François, St. Domingo – 1 Nov. 1804, to the Glory 98, flag-ship of Rear-Admirals Sir John Orde and Chas. Stirling off Cadiz and in the Channel, and, under the latter officer, part of Sir Robt. Calder’s fleet in the action off Cape Finisterre 22 July, 1805 – 22 July and 7 Dec. 1806, to the Sampson and Diadem 64’s, each bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Stirling, with whom, subsequently to the capture of Monte Video in Feb. 1807, he proceeded to the Cape of Good Hope – 13 June, 1808, again to the Bellerophon 74, Capt. Sam. Warren, stationed in the North Sea and Baltic, on which latter station, after having taken possession, with the boats, of three vessels, he made a dash at, and in the most gallant manner carried, 19 June, 1809, one of four batteries by which they had been covered, mounting 4 24-pounders and garrisoned by 103 men, a service that elicited the acknowledgments of the Admiralty[1] – and 4 Sept. 1810, and 17 June, 1813, to the President 38 and Blenheim 74, likewise commanded by Capt. Warren, the former at the reduction of Java, the latter in the North Sea. He was advanced to the rank of Commander 4 Dec. 1813, and not afterwards employed. Agents-Messrs. Ommanney.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1809, p. 1101.